Policy

Knight Frank's UK resi development research boss dissects the recent plunge in housing starts - and explains what politicians should be prioritising to get things back on track.

‘If the government truly wants a fairer system, it must consider regional variations in property values,’ warns agency, dubbing mooted reform ‘a tax on London’.

Inside views from the sharp end of the prime sector as pre-Budget rumours continue to swirl.

Property portal 'asks the government to carefully consider the impact of any changes to property taxation to avoid unintended consequences.'

'I’d be surprised if there was anything to tax in PCL from the last decade as prices have fallen 20%,' notes Knight Frank's UK resi research chief.

A top research boss, a super-prime valuer, a tax guru and a veteran agent make sense of the speculation as silly season peaks.

The Chancellor is reportedly looking into charging Capital Gains Tax on top-end homes, and/or the prospect of an annual levy on the most expensive properties.

'We encourage all stakeholders to engage with the consultation and help shape the future of home surveying,' says the Royal Institute.

Treasury said to be weighing charge on £500k+ homes, with council tax overhaul also on the table.

'It's absolutely true that those with the broadest shoulders should bear the greatest burden,' says lobbyist Leslie McLeod-Miller of Foreign Investors for Britain.

Rachel Reeves said to weigh curbs on ‘bats and newts’ rules in push to speed up development.

HMRC data suggest the official prediction of how many non-doms would leave the UK when the tax break was scrapped is on the money.